Mario Andretti: He finds joy at Monterey Historics

Mario Andretti at Indianapolis earlier this year with grandson Marco and son Michael.

The Monterey Historic Automobile Races set everyone's memories in motion, and this year's guest of honor, Mario Andretti, was no exception. Andretti was on hand to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his Formula One world championship by doing demonstration laps in the Lotus 79 John Player Special that carried him to that title in 1978.

This year, surprisingly, marked Andretti's first time at the event. He seemed to enjoy making the rounds around the paddock and ogling the historic machinery nearly as much as circling Laguna Seca in his old mount. He did stop long enough to reminisce about some of his fondest racing-related memories.

"The one thing I see about this event is people are thoroughly enjoying it," he offered as to what impressed him most about the Historics. "Everybody's got a smile. All my life in real competition, sometimes the tension you could cut with a knife. I can't believe you can have the sound of race cars all around you and actually relax and enjoy yourself. This is the good life, man. I could get used to this, but I don't know if I'm allowed to have this much fun," he said with a wide grin.

"This was my first time on this track since '94 [when he raced in CART] and there are so many improvements," he said. "The real come-on was when [event organizer] Steve Earle said, 'Duncan Dayton will let you drive the 79.' On Friday, I tried not to touch the curbing, it [used to be] so terrible. All of sudden I said, 'Oh, man, you can actually use the curbing now,' so I realigned my approach to the corners.

"It's amazing how much time has gone by, but when you're in there, it seems like you never left it. I'm out there trying to be careful. That [car] is so precious; he's crazy to even let me sit in it. It's a delicate piece of equipment, but I thought, I gotta make some noise."

Andretti ranks the Lotus 79 as one of his favorite race cars because he felt he understood "its plusses and minuses" to "extract pretty much what the car could give me."

It gave him his fondest memory--wining the Italian Grand Prix at Monza to become world champion.

"It's something that only I can appreciate," he said. "When I was 14 years old, still in a refugee camp in Italy, I saw my first F1 race at Monza. That's where my dreams began."

He was quick to bring up the most recent example of living out his dreams, which occurred just prior to going to Monterey.

"I had the honor of inducting my son Michael" into the Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Asked about Michael's son, IndyCar Series driver Marco, he laughed and offered a typical grandfatherly reply.

"Well, kids know everything. What the hell do we know. We're ancient, we're living in the past," he said with a big smile. "He's a great kid and he's doing well. Sometimes I just wish more questions could be asked of me.

"You cannot teach someone how to go fast, but if they're fast on their own, you can hone their skills. Teach them to be smoother and control their emotions.

"Marco's a little bit of his own man and that's his prerogative."

Mario also was asked about McLaren-Mercedes F1 star Lewis Hamilton, whom he met last year at the FIA Gala awards ceremony in Monaco. Andretti was there to receive the FIA Gold Medal for lifetime achievement.

"Hamilton is really a nice kid. He has confidence in himself and has 100 percent support from McLaren, which is what it takes."

Andretti used Michael Schumacher as an example of how team support plays a role in a driver's success.

"Besides being a formidable race driver, Schumacher had the human element. He understood the importance of a team that would really work for him. He changed the culture of Ferrari for the better in many ways."

As for his teammates, Andretti says Ronnie Peterson was "the best."

"You can share things and show mutual respect," he says about team drivers. "Work together to a certain point, then go on your own.

"Ronnie and I were best friends."

As for his worst teammate, Andretti leaves no doubt.

"Nigel Mansell. This guy was a tremendous talent as a driver, but as a person, he leaves a little bit to be desired as far as I'm concerned. He would totally divorce himself from anyone else [on a team]. We could never have a meeting together discussing the car. I never felt so alone on a team when he came. When things started going not so well for him, he trashed the team."

As for the differences between Lotus founder Colin Chapman and Enzo Ferrari?

"Colin was a very special individual. One of those people in motor racing with whom you knew you had a shot at being world champion. As long as you were winning, he would kiss you. He was very emotional. He wanted to be a winner and when you brought that to him, he showed his appreciation.

"Mr. Ferrari was the same way. He appreciated when you gave your all. Look at the love he had for Gilles Villeneuve. That guy had so much heart. He didn't win a championship, but he gave so much of himself. And that's what these guys always look for. If you gave 110 percent, you were in with them."

The last statement certainly applies to Andretti, which is why we shouldn't expect to see him in the driver's seat of a vintage racer for anything other than demonstration laps. He has no desire to intrude on drivers who are living out their dreams.

"I enjoy watching these guys who have a big smile as they enjoy what they are doing. I drive competitively. I know you're not supposed to pass into the first corner, but there's no frickin' way I could do that. I probably would be breaking too many rules, so I stay out of it."

Racing or not, Mario Andretti is still a joy to see at the racetrack.

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